Integrated position and direction system with three-sensor digital compass

• US 6,353,798 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Richard, Green, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,392
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/216, 701/300, 701/211, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/357.14, 333/61
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An integrated position and direction system is disclosed that includes a digital compass, wherein the digital compass includes at least three sensors, and a satellite positioning system having a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals. Direction is determined using the digital compass and heading is determined using the SATPOS. When the integrated position and direction system is moving, heading is indicated. When the integrated position and direction system is not moving direction is indicated. The integrated position and direction system automatically switches between the display of heading (when the integrated position and direction system is moving) and the display of direction (when the integrated position and direction system is not moving).

Claims

1. An integrated position and direction system comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals and a microprocessor for determining position and for determining heading;

b) a digital compass for determining direction wherein said digital compass is comprised of at least three sensors; and

c) a display coupled to said satellite positioning system and coupled to said digital compass for indicating said heading and said direction.

2. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 1 wherein said heading is indicated on said display when said integrated position and direction system is moving and said direction is indicated when said integrated position and direction system is not moving.

3. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 1 wherein said microprocessor is operable to indicate on said display position determined by said satellite positioning system.

4. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a housing, wherein said display, said satellite positioning system, and said digital compass are disposed in said housing.

5. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 4 wherein said housing is palm-sized.

6. An integrated position and direction system comprising:

a) a display;

b) a satellite positioning system including a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals, said satellite positioning system adapted to determine heading;

c) a digital compass coupled to said satellite positioning system wherein said digital compass is comprised of at least three sensors, said digital compass adapted to determine direction; and

d) a controller for controlling the operations of said integrated position and direction system, said controller coupled to said satellite positioning system and coupled to said digital compass and coupled to said display, said controller operable to indicate direction on said display when said integrated position and direction system is not moving and operable to indicate heading on said display when said integrated position and direction system is moving.

7. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 6 wherein said satellite positioning system is adapted to determine position using satellites of the U.S. Global Positioning System.

8. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a housing, wherein said display, said satellite positioning system, said digital compass, and said controller are disposed in said housing.

9. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 8 wherein said housing is palm-sized.

10. A method for indicating direction and heading comprising:

a) determining heading using a satellite positioning system when said satellite positioning system is moving; and

b) determining direction using a digital compass when said satellite positioning system is not moving, wherein said digital compass is comprised of at least three sensors; and

c) indicating said direction when said satellite positioning system is not moving and indicating said heading when said satellite positioning system is moving.

11. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 10 wherein said direction and said heading are indicated on a display, and wherein said display automatically switches between indicating said heading and indicating said direction.

12. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 11 wherein said direction and said heading are indicated using a four-point compass rose.

13. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 11 wherein said direction and said heading are indicated using an eight-point compass rose.

14. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 11 wherein said heading is indicated using a four-point compass rose and said direction is indicated using an eight-point compass rose.

15. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of:

d) providing a display coupled to said satellite positioning system and coupled to said digital compass, said indication of direction and said indication of heading indicated on said display.

16. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) indicating whether direction or heading is being indicated.

17. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of:

d) calibrating said digital compass using the heading determined by said satellite positioning system.

18. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of:

d) indicating position of said satellite positioning system.

19. A method for indicating direction and heading as recited in claim 10 wherein said direction and said heading are indicated using a moving map display.